Defence Science and Technology LaboratoryAbout this role
Details
Reference number
483222
Salary
£41,431 - £47,139
Salary will be dependent on skills & experience
A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%
GBP
Job grade
Senior Executive Officer
Level 5
Contract type
Permanent
Business area
CDO - S&T Delivery - Digital Advantage - Cyber
Type of role
Digital
Information Technology
Science
Working pattern
Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time, Compressed hours
Number of jobs available
1
Contents
Location
About the job
Benefits
Things you need to know
Apply and further information
Location
Dstl Porton Down, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP4 0JQ
At Dstl, our vision is to have a modern way of working efficiently, accommodating and enabling our people to create, collaborate and deliver. To do this successfully in this job will require attendance at a Dstl location, Government Departments including wider MoD or Delivery and Mission Partner premises for at least 80% of your working time.
About the job
Job summary
Are you passionate about applying Artificial Intelligence to solve some of the most complex cyber challenges facing the UK?
We are looking for a Senior Cyber AI Specialist to join a multidisciplinary team delivering innovative AI solutions in support of national security. Working at the forefront of cyber research and development, you will apply advanced mathematical, analytical and software engineering techniques to develop novel AI capabilities, explore emerging technologies and provide technical leadership across a range of challenging projects.
Why join us?
This role offers the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies including large language models, deep learning and reinforcement learning, helping to transform innovative ideas into practical solutions that deliver real-world impact. You will investigate emerging threats and opportunities within AI, evaluate the performance and robustness of models, and contribute to the development of trusted and assured AI capabilities.
As a senior specialist, you will work closely with scientists, engineers and technical stakeholders across government, industry and academia. Alongside your technical contribution, you will help shape future research direction, support the development of colleagues and provide authoritative technical advice that influences decision-making and programme outcomes.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone who combines strong technical expertise with curiosity, creativity and a desire to make a meaningful contribution to the UK's cyber and national security mission.
This role is eligible for an additional specialist allowance of £2758 annually subject to meeting extended onboarding requirements. The role may be eligible for additional skills allowances depending on the skills and experience of the applicant.
Job description
What you'll do;
Design, develop and evaluate innovative AI and machine learning solutions to address complex cyber challenges.
Apply advanced Python software development skills to develop and assess AI techniques including deep learning, reinforcement learning and large language models.
Investigate emerging AI technologies, threats and opportunities, identifying practical applications and future research areas.
Analyse and interpret model behaviour, performance, explainability and limitations using mathematical and analytical approaches.
Develop approaches to AI testing, evaluation, assurance and validation to support robust and trustworthy outcomes.
Work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-quality technical outputs and research outcomes.
Communicate complex technical concepts to a variety of audiences through reports, presentations and stakeholder engagement.
Provide technical leadership, mentor colleagues and help grow AI capability across the organisation.
Manage technical risks, contribute to strategic decision-making and support the successful delivery of projects and programmes.
For more information on the job responsibilities, please see the job profile attached below.
Person specification
What we're looking for
Strong understanding of AI and machine learning concepts, including neural networks, deep learning, reinforcement learning and large language models.
Experience applying mathematical and analytical techniques to develop, evaluate or improve AI and machine learning solutions.
Strong Python software development skills and experience working with machine learning frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow.
Experience solving complex technical challenges in engineering, science, technology or cyber-related environments.
Experience leading or influencing technical work within multidisciplinary teams.
Strong communication skills, with the ability to explain complex technical topics clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Experience coaching, supporting or developing colleagues.
For more information the essential criteria, please see the job profile attached below.
Important Information:
Our work in defence, security and intelligence requires our employees to be UK Nationals who are able to gain a high level of security clearance to undertake the projects we are involved in to protect us from security threats.
For this reason, only UK Nationals will be able to apply for this role. If you are an international or dual-national candidate, and you think you have the skills we need, please consider applying to any of our government, security or defence partners.
This role will require Develop Vetting and you should have resided in the UK for the past 10 years.
Qualifications
Relevant STEM-based degree such as Electronic Engineering, Embedded Systems, Computer Science, Physics or Mathematics. Individual with equivalent skills qualifications or experience are also actively encouraged to apply.
Behaviours
We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:
Delivering at Pace
Communicating and Influencing
Working Together
Changing and Improving
Benefits
Alongside your salary of £41,431, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory contributes £12,002 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides .
Benefits
Dstl’s full range of great benefits can be found in the information pack which includes:
Financial: An excellent pension scheme starting from 26% employer contribution (find out more here). In Year Rewarding Achievement bonuses and thank you vouchers. Rental deposit scheme and cycle to work scheme.
Flexible working: Options include alternative working patterns such as; compressed hours, job shares and annualised hours (agreed number of hours per annum paid monthly i.e. working term-time only).
Working hours: Flexibility around your working day (e.g. start time, finish time). Ability to bank hours in a 12 month reference period including the ability to accrue and use 3 days per calendar month.
Where you work: This role requires a minimum of 80% on site attendance.
Annual leave: 25 days pro rata (rising to 30 after 5 years) plus 8 public holidays with the ability to buy/sell 5 additional days per annum.
Family: Maternity, adoption or shared parental leave of up to 26 weeks with full pay, an additional 13 weeks statutory pay and a further 13 weeks unpaid
Learning and Development: Dstl encourages and supports charterships, accreditations and provides employees access to fully funded apprenticeships up to level 7 (Masters Degree). Dstl will pay for 2 memberships with relevant bodies/institutions. Employees also have access to Civil Service Learning.
Facilities: Onsite parking, EV Charging points, restaurants, cafés and gyms.
Things you need to know
Artificial intelligence
Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.
Selection process details
This vacancy is using Success Profiles , and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.
We want you to have your best chance of success in our recruitment process, so If at any stage of the application process you would like help or assistance please contact the Dstl Recruitment Team 
and we will do all we can to support you.
At the application stage, we will assess your submitted application against the essential criteria set out in the job profile.
Sifting will take place week commencing the 26th of October with interviews taking place from the 2nd of November.
Your interview will consist of behavioural and technical competency-based questions. You will also be required to deliver a 10-minute presentation. Further details for the presentation will be provided to candidates invited to interview.
Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.
Security
Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is developed vetting .
See our vetting charter .
People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.
Nationality requirements
Open to UK nationals only.
This job is not open to candidates who hold a dual nationality.
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.
We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles .
The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.
The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.
Diversity and Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy .
Apply and further information
This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans initiative.
Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.
Contact point for applicants
Job contact :
Name : Cyber Recruitment Team
Email :
Recruitment team
Email :
Further information
Should you wish to raise a formal complaint about the Dstl recruitment process you should email stating the nature of the issue. We will respond within 5 working days.
Company:
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory
Level of experience (years):
Senior (5+ years of experience)
How to apply:
Please mention NLP People as a source when applying